Machine for emptying bread and the like from baking pans



April 27, 1954 ARCHER 2,676,718

MACHINE FOR EMPTYING BREAD AND THE LIKE FROM BAKING PANS Filed Sept. 22,1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS April 27, 1954 ARCHER 2,676,718

MACHINE FOR EMPTYING BREAD AND THE LIKE FROM BAKING PANS Filed Sept. 22,1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 5; Z 25 67 m5 70 I INVEN TOR.

ZQZJIM/Y/W A TTOFA EKS April 27, 1954 M. ARCHER 2,676,718

momma FOR EMPTYING BREAD AND THE LIKE FROM BAKING FANS Filed Sept. 22.1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 jyui INVENTOR.

A T TOP/V5315 April 27, 1954 M ARCHER 2,676,718

MACHINE FOR EMPTYING BREAD AND THE'LIKE FROM BAKING PANS Filed Sept. 22,1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENIOR. V fil 2; lra/rer AWOPNEKS' April 27,1954 M. ARCHER 2,676,713

MACHINE FOR EMPTYING BREAD AND THE- LIKE FROM BAKING FANS Filed Sept.22, 1950 7' Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

ATTOP/VEYJ' Patented Apr. 27, 1954 MACHINE FOR EMPTYING BREAD AND THELIKE FROM BAKING PANS Irving M. Archer, Dallas, Tern, assignor toCampbell Taggart Research Corporation,

Dallas,

Tex., a corporation of Missouri Application September 22, 1950, SerialNo. 186,197

27 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for emptying bread and the like fromthe baking pans as they are discharged from the oven of a commercialbakery. the principal object being to provide a machine capable ofhandling volume output of such products with the entire operations ofemptying the pans, and discharging the loaves of bread and empty pansbeing automatic.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a machine of thischaracter that is of relatively simple construction, positive inoperation and which dumps the bread without damaging the pans ormisshaping of the loaves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine that isreadily adapted to pans of various sizes and number of pans that arestrapped together in a unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine readilyadaptable to the output of an oven.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafterpointed out, I have provided improved structure the preferred form ofwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pan emptying machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the machine on the line 22 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. is an end elevational view of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine with one of the side frames shownin horizontal section.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the machine, particularly illustratingthe mechanism to facilitate turning of the loaves as they are dischargedfrom the pans.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 1-! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through the machineparticularly illustrating the pan inverting mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the machine, particularly illustratingthe timing mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line iG--l0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the control and safety mechanisms.

Fig. 12 is a, fragmentary view of the the main drive and safety switchthat is operated thereby for shutting down the machine in case ofjamming of a pan or failure of on of the pan operating mechanisms.

2 Fig. 13 is a section through the switch actuator on the line l3-l3 ofFig. 12.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a machine constructed in accord-.

ance with the present invention for emptying bread pans that aredischarged by the oven unloader as the pans come out of the oven in acommercial bakery, the pans being conveyed from the oven unloader to themachine I by a suitable conveyor (not shown). The machine I comprisesspaced side frames 2 and 3, each comprising an outer side plate d ofsubstantial rectangular shape and having a notched upper corner 5. Theside frames also include inner plates 6 that are spaced from the outerplates and extend transversely from the notched corners 5 to theopposite vertical edges 1 of the outer plates 4 and from the upper edges8 of the outer plates to terminate short of the lower edges 9 of theouter plates as indicated at it, Fig. 3. The adjacent vertical sideedges 1 of the inner and outer plates are connected by webs II thatproject downwardly below the edges 9 to form legs l2 and [3 which areinterconnected by a cross bar it below the lower edge H of the innerplates 6. The opposite vertical edges it of the outer plates areconnected with vertical channels [6 and I31 forming legs :8 and it whichare interconnected transversely by cross bars and 2i, Figs. 2 and 4. Theside frames are also connected by an intermediate cross bar 22 locatedat the lower edges it of the inner plates and which carries an angle 23cooperating with the cross bar 2c in supporting a platform plate 24. Theinner and outer plates of the side frames 2 and 3 are interconnected atthe notched portions 5 of the outer plates by Webs 25 and 26 as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. The side frames 2 and 3 are also connected above thetransverse bar as by rods 21 and 28. Also connecting the opposite sidesof the side frames 2 and 3 at the lower edges of the notched portions 5is an outwardly projecting frame 29 including spaced parallel cross bars355 and 3 l.

Formed in the outer plates t of the side frames are lower elongatedrectangular shaped openings 32 and spaced thereabove is a similaropening 33, which openings are arranged transversely. The side framesare interconnected at the horizontal edges of the openings 32 by ahorizontal plate 34 and spaced therebelow but carried slightly above thefloor level on spaced angles 35 is a platform 36. The angles 35 extendinwardly of the machine to terminate slightly beyond the cross bar 22 asshown in Fig. 2.

Extending transversely between the side frames 2 and 3 and having endsprojecting through the opening 33 are spaced rails 3'5 and 38 carryingshafts 39 and so at the respective ends thereof. The shafts 39 and iteach carry a pair of sprockets 4i and Q2. The rails 37 and 56 constitutetubular guides 43 and upper tracks id as shown in Fig. 2 to support thelower and upper runs 45 and 46 of chain belts ll and 5 8 operating overthe pairs of sprockets ii and 42 to carry the bread pans into themachine. The lower runs of the chains are directed into the tubularguides by inclined lips 49 and out of the guides by rollers 56 as shownin Fig. 8.

The shaft 39 of the conveyor constitutes the driven shaft and isoperated by a motor that is positioned on the platform 2E as shown inFig. 3 and has the armature shaft 52 thereof, con nected with a speedreducer 53 also mounted on the platform 24 and which carries a sprocketfor driving a sprocket 55 on the conveyor shaft 39 by a chain 55 as bestshown in Figs. 3 and i. The chain belts Al and ii? are thus drivencontinuously to carry the pans into the machine and over a pan invertingor dumping device 5?, later described. The pans are guided into pan durp ing position by an outer guide rail 53 that is supported on arms 59and Gil depending from a shaft 6i. The arms are adapted to be moved toadjustably position the guide bar with respect to the opposite side ofthe conveyor by a rod 62 that is connected with one of the arms which isadjustable in a lug 83 by a screw device It is obvious that by adjustingthe outer guide 58, the ends of the pans of a strapped set may be keptin contact with a fixed guide at the op pcsite side of the conveyorwhile the strapped se of pans are being moved into a position relativelyto the pan inverting device til.

The moving pans are stopped in position the inverting device Ei'i whilethe conveyor belts continue to move thereunder. This is effected by anabutment plate 66 that is adjustably s pported on the side frame 3 byadjusting so Gv'iS iii and 68. With this arrangement, a set of strappedpans are carried into position with the longer dimension of the panstransversely of conveyor belts, so that when the set of pans isinverted, the loaves of bread fall upside down in side-to-side relationat the side of the innermost conveyor belt. In this operation, the setof pans drop onto the pan guide and support menbers 69 and it, laterdescribed.

The pan inverter 5? is mounted on a tubular shaft "ii that is supportedbetween the side frames 2 and 3 on a tie rod i2 that is carried by theinner plates 6 thereof. The inverter includes a sleeve it oscillatablymounted on the tubular shaft and which carries arcuate arms id, '36, andii that are arranged in spaced-apart relation and connected with thesleeve by spokes "it. The arcuate arms operate between the chains of theconveyor as shown in Fig. 2 and have their free ends connected by a panlifting bar is that cooperates with the bar 8d, carried by hub portionsSI of the spokes, to engage under the bottom of the set of pans. The bar89 also carries a co-extensive strip 82 which engages the ends of thepan and prevents them from sliding off the inverter before the pans arein position to fall therefrom in upside down position, as laterdescribed.

The inner arcuate arms i5 and. id of the inverter include wing portions83 which project from the spokes l8 and provide lever arms to which apiston rod 84 is connected by means of 4 a pin 85. The piston rod 84carries a piston (not shown) that is slidably mounted in a eylinder 86which is pivotally supported on a bracket 53? that projects from thecross bar 20, previously described.

A pressure fluid such as air is admitted to the respective ends of thecylinder 8% through ducts and 89 to effect reciprocation of the pistonand rocking movement of the inverter. each set of pans reach theposition to be operated upon by the inverter, the foremost pan in theset engages a lever 9t that is pivotally mounted in a slot M of theabutment plate bit, the lever being connected with a switch 92 closingan electric circuit which is connected with a solenoid valve forsupplying pressure fluid to an actuating cylinder dd that is pivotallysuspended between the conveyor chains on a bracket 95. The bracket 9%;pivotally mounts a lever 96 having a lug 9? that is adapted to be movedinto the path of a succeeding set of pans to stop movement thereof untilthe proceeding set of pans has been completely moved out of the way bythe inverter and dropped upon the pan guide supports "9 and ":6,previously mentioned. The stop lever as is connected with a piston rod98 with a piston that is slidable in the cylinder 9% as best shown in 8.The piston is actuated by a spring as.

The pan support and guide members es and "it are formed of platematerial and are adjustably supported in spaced parallel relationbetween the side frames as best shown in Fig. 1, on shafts we, iiii, andiil'i so that edges of the plates serve as the pan guides. The shaftsltd, idi, and 232 each have spaced sets of right and left threads itsand Hi l engaged by internally threaded nuts its that are attached tothe plate members and through which the threaded shafts best shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The ends of the shafts are suitably journalled in theplates of the side frames 2 and 3 and are operatively connected togetherso that when a crank iilt on the end of the shaft iiii is turned all orthe shafts are rotated to maintain parallel relation of the pan guideplates as they are adjusted according to the spacing between the pans ina strapped set, for example, if four pan sets are the guide piates wouldbe adjusted to engage the straps between the first and second pans. Theshafts its and Edi have related sprockets and W8 and the shafts it! andi'df. have related sprockets its and till. Operating over the respectiverelated sprockets are chains ii; and H2 (see Fig. 3). The guide plateshave inclined edges which terminate in upwardiy extending arcs its forguiding the pans upwardly to a right side up position on an off-takeconveyor The conveyor i it consist of spaced chains 1 it that arecarried on pairs of sprockets 2 it and i it which are fixed on shaftsiii and B25 journalled in spaced longitudinal frame members i2! and it?that are carried in horizontal position the inner plates 6 by inc-ans ofbrackets i523. The shaft iii; projects through the outer plate of theside frame 2 and carries a sprocket i251 and operating thereover andover a sprocket 525 on a motor driven speed reducer $26 i a chain 82%,as best shown in Fig. 1. With this arrangement, the or?- take conveyoris driven continuously to discharge the righted pans onto a transverseconveyor 12?. The conveyor iii comprises spaced chain belts E28 that arecarried on pairs of sprockets i251 fixed to shafts its and iiijournalled at the ends of the cros bars as and Si, previously described.The

5,. shaft I3I projects from the frame member 3| and carries a sprocketI32 that is driven by a chain E33 operating over a sprocket I34 on adriving unit I35 actuated by a motor I36 which is carried on a bracketit? as shown in Fig. 4. The conveyor I2? is thus positioned transverselyof the conveyor I I 5 so that the discharge pans may be delivered ineither direction depending upon the direction in which chain belts I28are driven. In order to turn the pans as they are discharged onto theconveyor I27, the chain belts I28 thereof are mounted so that the upperruns operate in a slightly inclined plane whereby a corner of thedischarged set of strapped pans is first engaged by the fi'take conveyorand caused to turn the discharge pans against a longitudinal guidemember I38.

When the pans drop onto the guide plates, the loaves of bread containedtherein are jarred loose and drop therefrom.

It sometimes happens that one or-all of the loaves in a strapped set ofpans tend to hang momentarily before they drop from the pans because ofdented or bent pans, uneven greasing, or possibly uneven scaling orproofing of the dough from which the loaves are formed. Therefore, meansis provided and timed to allow the pans to rest upon the pan guideplates for as long a time as possible, consistent with the rate ofproduction before they are pushed upwardly along the guides by means ofa conveyor mechanism as now described. Extending transversely of themachine and having its ends journalled in suitable bearings I39 on theside frames of the machine is a shaft 145 which is driven by a suitablereduction gearing enclosed in a housing MI that is suspended between theconveyor chains of the off-take conveyor from a cross bar I62. The powershaft I43 of the speed reduction gearing extends alongside the off-takeconveyor and has its outer end journalled in a bearing I44 that iscarried by plate M suspended from the cross bar 3i as shown in Fig. 2.Fixed to the projecting end of the shaft is a pulley I46 and operatingthereover and over a pulley I41 on the armature shaft 148 of a motor I49is a belt I551. The motor M5 is carried by a bracket I5! fixed to thecross bar 2!, previously described.

Mounted on the ends of the shaft I 50 between the inner and outer platesof the side frames are arms I52 and I53 each having oppositely directedends 55 which pivotally mount arcuate links I55 carrying p s I55, thelinks being counterbalanced by weights I57 to retain the pins I56 inproper position within guide slots I58 and I59 that are formed in therespective inner plates 5 of the side frames 2 and 3. The guide slots include inclined portions I65 that extend parallel along the inclinededges of the pan guide members and which terminate in arcuate portionsl5I that follow the curved edges of the guide members and which connectwith horizontal portions I52 that are located above the upper run of theoff-take conveyor chains as best shown in Fig. 2.

The arcuate portions I5I join the horizontal portions by rounding of theslots as indicated at I53.

From the terminal ends of the horizontal portions of the slots, theslots extend downwardly to connect with the inclined portions of theslots as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It is obvious that as the arms I52and I53 rotate in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), the pins move withinthe slots to engage the strapped set of pans that has been deposited onthe guide members and to push the empty pans upwardly Where they areturned about a guide I54 that is supported by suitable brackets I65above the off-take conveyor.

However, the pins I56 do not travel at the same constant speed as thearms I52 and I53 or links I55 because when the links I55 trail the pinsI55 down the vertical portions of the slots, the pins I56 come to dwellin the vertical portions of the slots while the ends of the arms I52 andI53 swing across the arc of their movement or until the ends of the armsI52 and I53 have swung sufficiently past the lower ends of the slots toallow the links I55 to swing downwardly by pivoting on the pinconnections thereof with the ends I54 of the arms. The pins thencontinue their movement to the entrance of the inclined portions of theslots. This delay or dwell of the pins I56 allows plenty of time for theloaves of bread to drop from the pans before the pins I56 move intoposition for engaging the inverted set of pans. As the pins engage theset of pans, the pans are pushed thereby up the arcuate portions 55! ofthe slots with the upper portion of the set of pans being directed alongthe terminal of the arcuate guides until the pan over-balance and dropupon the upper ends of the guides I64. As the pins move upwardly andalong the horizontal portions of the slots, the pans are moved onto theoff-take conveyor. Continued movement of the arms carries the pinsdownwardly in the vertical portions of the slots so as to return them toposition for engaging a succeeding set of pans that have been moved intoposition by the pan inverting device, as previously described.

Adjustably mounted on the rod 21 are divider plates I 55, I51, and IE8which cooperate with depending extensions I65 of the guide plates toform individual passageways for each loaf of bread as it falls from thepan.

Since the loaves of bread fall upside down, means is provided forturning the leaves as now to be described. Rotatably mounted in suitablebearings Ill! and I'll attached to the inner plates of the side framesis a shaft I12 carrying a roller I13 having a series of circumferentialspaced grooves I'M for endless belts I15 that operate over rollers I15and Ill. The roller IT! is mounted on a shaft I'Iil carried by platesI19 bolted to the inner plates of the side frames. The roller I16,however, is carried on brackets I and I8I each havin arms I82 and I83,one of which is pivotally mounted on the plates by bolt I83 and theother has a slot I85 passing a clamping bolt I85 to retain the roller inadjusted position.

The shaft for the groove roller carries a sprocket I87 that is driven bya chain I88 operating over a sprocket I85 on the power shaft of a speedreduction gear I that is actuated by a motor I5I positioned on a bracketI32 carried adjacent the inner side of the leg I2 on the side frame.

The grooved roller H3 is driven in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) sothat the belts H5 engage the ends of the loaves and tend to lift themwhile the opposite ends of the loave drop on an inclined chute I53 thatis hinged as at I55 to brackets I95 that are carried by the inner end ofthe angles 35 as best shown in Fig. 2. The chute is held in position bylatch bolts I56 engaging in one of a series of openings I97 to adjustthe angular position of the chute.

It is obvious that since the loaves do not drop from the pans at thesame time, they do not reach their upright position on the chute at thesame time. Means is therefore provided to detain the loaves inrightedposition on the chute to give ample time for the slowly droppingloaves to catch up and laterally align in a row with the faster droppingloaves. All of the loaves from the strapped set of pans may thencontinue their slide down the chute in a laterally aligned row as now tobe described. Pivotally supported on a rod Hi8 that is carried by theframe work 12s of the chute is a flap 20!] which is adapted to raiseinto the path or" the bread sliding down the chute to align all of theloaves so that they will slide in a uniform row over the lower end ofthe chute and roller 26! onto an oil-take conveyor 2%.

Ihe flap 2% is operated by a pressure actuated piston 263 that isslidably mounted in a cylinder 2% which is pivotally supported on thechute as indicated at 2%. The piston carries a spring loaded piston rod286 that is connected with an arm 2M on the flap by a pin 268. A fluidpressure medium is admitted to the cylinder to act against the piston268 through duct 239 to act against and efiect movement thereof inopposition to a spring BIL so as to raise the nap in position andmomentarily detain the loaves of bread to eifect their alignment. Whenthe pressure medium is exhausted to the atmosphere, the spring 2Wreturns the flap to normal position and allows the loaves of bread tocontinue their movement onto the off-take conveyor. The roller Elli isdriven from the speed reduction gearing Hit by sprocket 25! carrying achain 212 that operates over a sprocket 2!? on the shaft of the roller2! as best shown in Fig. 3. The bread conveyor 262 preferably comprisesan endless belt 2 i having an upper run 255 operating through theopenings 32 in the side frames over the platform 34, and a lower run 2operating through notches 25? formed in the lower edges of the outerside plates 5 as shown in Fig. l.

The pressure cylinders :33, 9 and 2% are supplied with pressure iiuidthrough a pipe 2 i 8 hav il'lg branches 2 i9 and 223 connected with theducts 88 and 35 supplying the ends of the pan inverter cylinderConnected in the pipes 2 it and are are pressure regulating valves 22%and E22 having pressure indicating gauges and 22 5 connected with thedischarge sides thereof, whereby difierential pressures may be suppliedto the respective ducts 8S 3%. Also connected in the duct 88 is areserve pressure tank for maintaining a substantially constant lowpressure against the outer end of the piston in the cylinder 86 toproject the piston rod and hold the pan inverter device 5? in retractedposition so that a set of strapped pans can be moved thereacross. Thispressure acting on the piston is merely sufficient to positively retainthe pan inverter in retracted position. The pressure regulator 222,however, is set to maintain a greater pressure on the opposite side ofthe piston so that when the solenoid valve 225 is opened in the pipe22c, pressure fluid is supplied to the opposite end of the cylinder at;greater pressure to effect operation of the pan inverter 5'5 against thelesser pressure acting on the opposite end of the piston. However, whenthe solenoid valve 225 is closed and the duct 39 vented to theatmosphere through an exhaust 22?, the constant pressure acting throughthe duct 88 returns the pan inverter 5? to normal position. The cylinder361 is supplied with pressure fluid from the pipe 253 through a branchpipe 228 having a pressure regulator valve 229 and a pressure gauge 230.Also connected in the pipe 229 is a solenoid valve as having an exhaustoutlet 232. When the solenoid valve 93 opens,

fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 9 to effect movement of thepiston for raising the stop lever into position for stopping asucceeding set of pans when a proceeding set of pans is over the paninverter as later described. Also connected with the pipe 2 it is abranch pipe 233 that is connected with the flap actuating cylinder 2%.This pipe is equipped with a pressure regulating valve 234 and apressure gauge 235. The pipe is also equipped with a shut-off valve 236and a cam actuated valve 23'! which is under control of the pin carryingarm as later described.

The conveyors and revolving arms which carry the pins are operatedcontinuously when the machine is in use. The pan inverter 51 and breadaligning flap 29!] are operated intermittently according to the feedingrate of the pans discharged from the oven. Means is therefore providedto keep these mechanisms in synchronism with movement of the pans by thepin carrying arms, as now to be described.

Mounted on the outer end of the shaft l iii is a cross arm and a camdisk 239. The arm 233 has oppositely directed ends carrying rollers 24cand 2455 adapted to engage the actuating arm of a switch 243 to closecircuit through a holding coil 2 M of a relay switch 2 35 which controlsflow or" current to the solenoid valves and and to the switch 82,previously described, and to a holding switch 24% that is actuated bythe pan inverter 5? as now to be described.

Current is supplied through line conductors 2d"! and the conductor 241being connected wi h one contact 2 39 of the relay switch 2% while theconductor 2% is connected with one lead 25?? of the holding coil 2%. Theother lead iii of the holding coil is connected with one contact of therelay switch while the complementary contact 253 or" the relay switch isconnected with the other contact 25% of the switch 246 by a conductorThe relay contact 252 is also connected by a conductor 25% with acontact 25'? of the switch 2%. The other contact 258 of the switch 2&3is connected by a conductor 259 with one contact 25% of the switch 92and through the solenoid 23E to the supply conductor 248 by conductors726i and 252. The other contact 293 of the switch Bi. is connected by aconductor 234 with the supply conductor 241. The solenoid valve issupplied with an actuating current through another set of contacts 265and 266 of the relay switch, the contact 265 being connected with thesupply conductor 243 through a branch conductor 251 and the contact 265is connec'ed to the other supply conductor 241 through the solenoidwinding of the valve 226 by conductors 2S8 263. The switch contacts 251and 25B are closed by a movable contact 218 that is operated by theactuating arm 242. The contacts and and and 252 of the relay switch areclosed by movable contacts 277i and 2'52. The switch contacts and 2% arenormally closed by a niovabie contact 2233 which is operated by a lever2M adapted to be engaged by-a spring pressed pin Z'ib that is mounted onone of the arcuate arms of the pan inverter so that near completion ofthe movement of the pan inverter, the pin engages the lever 27% to opencircuit through the contacts 2 59 and 254. The contacts 263 and 26%) ofswitch 92 are normally open but are closed on actuation of the panengaging lever by a movable contact 2W, but the inverter cannot operateuntil the switch 2% is closed by the rollers 2 3i} and 2 3i on the arm238 which rotates with the pan moving arms. The dumping of the pans aretherefore kept in time with removal of the empty set of pans. Because ofthe delay required to assure dropping of all the loaves of bread from aset of inverted pans, the timing for closure of the switch 243 by therollers 240 and MI is such that a succeeding pan is deposited by theinverter as close as possible to the previously dumped set of pans tomaintain the maximum capacity of the machine.

While adequate safety mechanisms are provided, it is possible that a pancould become wedged in the machine due to failure of the controldevices. Means is therefore provided for disconnecting the drive of themain motor I49 and opening of the circuit thereof. This is effected byproviding an idle pulley 218 which engages the drive belt I58 to holdthe belt I 50 in taut relation with respect to the driving pulley of themotor I67. The pulley 278 is mounted on a slide bar 289 that isreciprocably supported in a block ZBI carrying a spring pressed balllatch 282 engaging in a notch 283 of the bar 28%? to hold the bar inextended position. Mounted on the block near the opposite end of the baris a switch 284 that is connected with the main supply circuit to eliectopening thereof in case the pull on the belt should exceed the holdingforce of the ball latch 282 as in the case of wedging of a pan in themachine, the switch 284 being operably connected with the bar 280 by alever 285. The block 2M is adjustably mounted on the side frame of themachine by cap screws 286 extending through slots 28'! of the bar andinto threaded engagement with a part of the frame, as best shown inFigs. 12 and 13.

Bread dough is made in batches of from 1,200 to 1,600 pounds in a modernbakery. These doughs are scheduled usually three or four per hour. Whenthe dough is cut into pieces for one pound loaves of bread, obviously,more pieces are had than when the dough is cut into pieces for one andone-half pound loaves of bread. This relationship means that duringcertain times of the day more loaves of bread per minute must be handledthan at other times. To take care of the fluctuating production, themotor I49 actuating the pan carrying arms of the bread dumping machineis a multiple speed motor, for example, a motor having two speeds. Themotor is therefore controlled by a high speed switch 268 and a low speedswitch 289 which are alternately operated by an arm 290 looselysupported on the shaft I40 and having an arcuate lower edge providedwith notches 29I, 292, and 293 adapted to be engaged by a manuallyactuated bolt 294. Carried by the depending arm 290 is a cross member295 having ends 296 and 29! adapted to respectively engage the actuatinglevers 298 and 299 of the respective switches 288 and 289 depending uponwhich of the notches is engaged by the bolt 2%. For example, when thebolt 294 is enaging the notch 293, the motor is actuated at' high speedand when engaging the opposite notch 2%, the motor is operated at lowspeed or when the bolt engages the intermediate notch 292, the motorcircuit is open. The cam actuated valve 1-31 is carried on the dependingarm 290 and has an actuating lever 300 provided with a roller 39! forengaging opposite diametrically arranged high lobes 382 and see on thecam disk 239 as best shown in Figs. 9 and 10. With this arrangement,positioning of the arm so as to close the high or low speed switchesalso positions the actuating roller of the valve relatively to the highlobes of the cam.

In moving from low speed to high speed, changing of the position of theswitch 243 is of greatest importance. The pan turnover is effected atapproximately the same speed regardless of the speed of the arms 252 and253. This is desirable soas to not vary the dumping shock, it beingobvious that if the speed of the pan inverter is I increased with thespeed of the arms 252 and 253,

the force with which the pans strike the guides would be increased. Withthe present arrangement, the pans will move out of the way of a turningpan and up the guide tracks with greater rapidity when the pan isoperated at high speed than in low speed. Thus, the pans should befurther along the guides when the pan turnover movement is initiatedduring low speed operation than during high speed operation to clear thepans. Mounting of the switch on the speed changing arm 2% automaticallychanges relation of the time that the switch is operated relatively toposition of the pan moving pins when a speed change is eifected.Therefore, the pans are caused to drop close behind the preceding set ofpans at either of the selected speeds which allows for maximum time forthe loaves to be discharged at either speed with a constant speed of theinverting mechanism.

Assuming that the machine constructed as described is installed in abakery, the operation is as follows. Bread pans as they come out of theoven are fed onto the chain belts 41 and 48 which carry the pans insuccessive order over the pan inverting device 57. As soon as theforemost pan is in position, the forward pan has engaged the back stop66 and has actuated the lever to close circuit through the switch 92.Switch 243 is closed by either roller 24!? or 24I on rotating arm 238 tosend an impulse through the coil 244 to eifect closing circuit throughthe contacts 253 and 252 and 265 and 266. As soon as the contacts 252and 253 of the relay switch are closed, the circuits remain closed untilthey are opened responsive to completion of movement of the paninverting device. Current is then flowing through the solenoid windingof the valves 93 and 226 so as to cause the stop lever 96 to move intoposition for holding a succeeding set of pans while the inverting deviceis in operation. Opening of the valve 226 allows pressure medium to flowto the cylinder 36 to actuate the pan inverter which turns the set ofpans thereon in upside down position onto the inclined portions I I3 ofthe pan supporting and guide plates 69 and 10. As soon as the pan iscleared, the actuating arm for the switch 92 will open the switch butthe circuit remains closed by reason of the current flowing through theholding coil of the relay switch. However, as soon as the pan inverterhas dumped the set of pans, the pin 275 contacts the arm 214 and opensthe holding switch 25 3, thereby opening the circuit to permit openingof the valves 93 and 226 so as to exhaust the pressure medium from therespective cylinders 86 and 94, the stop lever 96 being returned to itsnormal position by reason of the spring 99' and the pan inverter beingreturned to its original position by the air pressure acting in thecylinder 86 through the pipe 88. The succeeding pan then moves intoposition but the inverter cannot be operated until the dumped pan hasbeen moved out of position by the pan carrying arms I53 and the arm 238is in position to again close the switch 243. The jar of the pansstriking the supporting plates causes the loaves of bread to drop intothe chute between the respective guide plates. As the bread the cam 23%!has now moved into position to open the valve 231 for admitting pressuremedium to the cylinder Zii-i which moves the flap 2% across the path ofthe loaves of bread so that they are momentarily detained and aligned tocontinue movement along the chute in a row. When the high lobe of thecam disk 239 runs off the roller 38 l the valve 23? closes and thepressure medium is exhausted from the cylinder 2% so that the springtherein returns the flap to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2,which releases the loaves of bread for gravital movement across the feedrollers Elli and onto the bread discharge conveyor.

As above stated, bread dough is made of batches of from 1200 to 1600pounds in a modern bakery and these doughs are scheduled usually threeor four per hour. When the dough is out into pieces for one pound loavesof bread, obviously more pieces are had than when the dough is out intopieces for one and one-half pound loaves of bread. Therefore, when onesize loaves have been run and another size is to be baked, the dumpingchine must be readjusted to take care of the d... ferent number or" pansto be handled to change the position of various parts to accom modatedifferent sized pans or the number of pans included in the strappedsets. The variation in the capacity of the machine is readily adjustedby changing the position of the arm act so that the circuit to the mainmotor is established for operating the motor at the required speed. Thisis effected by releasing the bolt 29% and shifting the arm so that thebolt engages the proper notch 29! or 293. The machine be adjusted to thesize of the pans by turning the crank Hit which changes the position ofthe pan supporting and guide plates E39 and '59. If narrower pans withthe same number in set are used but are of smaller size, the crank willbe rotated in a direction to move the plates s and ill closer together.After this adjustment, the plates Hit and it are adjusted relatively tothe plates 89 and it. This is effected .by releasing the clamp screwsand sliding the plates along the rod If a different number of pans areused in a strapped set, then the plates as and it are adjusted toproperly support the inverted pans. For example, if a set of three pansis used, the plates 59 and IE3 are adjusted to engage the straps of thepans at the sides of the inner pan. With this adjustment, the centerdividers it? may be moved into engagement with either one or the otherplates 69 and it since it is not needed. The other dividers E66 and 568,however, are adjusted to bring them into position for forming guides toretain the outer loaves of bread in proper position on the dischargechute. With this arrangement, the loaves of bread are prevented fromrolling and turning sidewise on the chute and are kept in straightalignment in their longitudinal direction. Plate 66 is moved by means ofadjusting screws 63 53 so as to stop the pan to be turned over inposition to be caught on the guide plates exactly between the pans andon the pan connecting straps.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a pan dumpingmachine that is relatively simple in construction and which iscompletely automatic in handling and dumping the pans and removing theloaves of bread to an 01.- take conveyor.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, combination of a paninverter, a conveyor i delivering pans to the inverter, means inreceiving relation with the pan inverter receiving and supporting theinverted pans to permit contents of the pans to drop therefrom, a pan dcharge conveyor above the level of the pan verter, movable means havinga generally up travel from the pan supporting means for o ing theinverted pans bodily from said sunpor ng means to the level of thepan-discharging con veyor and terminating in a generally horiao travelfor depositing the pans in upright position on the discharge conveyor,and for actuating said movable means.

2. In a machine of the character described, combination of a paninverter, a conveyor for livering strapped sets of pans to the invemeans in receiving relation with the pan invei for receiving andsupporting the inverted pans to permit contents of the pans to droptheir or," a discharge conveyor above the level oi" the 1...; inverterfor removing the empty sets of pans, movable means for elevating theinverted pans bodily from said supporting means and for depositing thepans in upright position onto the discharge conveyor, means ioreiiecting actuation of the pan inverter responsive to movement of a setof pans into position over the inverter by the delivery conveyor, andadjusting means for actuating means of said movable pan-elevating meansfor operating said movable means accordance with delivery rate of thepans by said first-named conveyor.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter, a conveyor for livering pans to the inverter, means inreceiving relation with the pan inverter for receiving and supportingthe inverted pans to permit contents of the pans to drop therefrom, apan removing conveyor, pan-elevating and turning means separate fromsaid supporting means for carrying the inverted pans from saidsup-porting means and for depositing the pans in upright position on thepan removing conveyor, and means for effecting actuation of the paninverter responsive to movement of a set of pans into position over theinverter by the delivery conveyor, said last-named means being effectiveresponsive to movement of said pan elevating and turning means.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter, a conveyor for delivering sets of pans of bread thro gh afixed path to the inverter, means in receiving rel "on with the paninverter for supporting inverted pans while the bread drops from thepans, means for actuating the pan inverter responsive o movement of a.set of pans into position over the inverter, means in the path of thedelivery conveyor for stopping movement of a following set of pans whilethe pan inverter is in motion, a pan discharge conveyor at a higherlevel than the pan inverter, and pan-elevating and turning means betweenthe pan inverter and the pan discharge conveyor for carrying andsimultaneously turning the pans while being carried from said supportingmeans to said discharge conveyor.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter, a conveyor for delivering sets of pans of bread through afixed path to the inverter, means in receiving relation with the paninverter for supporting inverted pans while the bread drops from thepans, means the for actuating the pan inverter responsive to movement ofa set of pans into position over the inverter, means in the path of thepans for stopping movement of a following set of pans while the paninverter is in motion, a pan discharge conveyor, pan-elevating andturning means for carrying the pans from said supporting means and fordepositing the pans in upright position on said discharge conveyor, andmeans responsive to movement of said pan elevating and turning means fortiming movement of the pan inverter.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a breadpan inverter, a conveyor for delivering pans of bread to the inverter,means in receiving relation with the pan inverter for receiving andsupporting the inverted pans to permit the loaves of bread to droptherefrom, movable means in the path of the loaves of bread and havingsupport for movement in a direction opposite to dropping of the bread tolift ends of the loaves of bread as they drop for turning the loaves, abread discharge conveyor, means for directing the bread loaves-in erectposition onto the bread discharge conveyor, and means for removing emptypans from said receiving and supporting means.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter for inverting sets of bread pans, a conveyor for delivering thesets of pans to the inverter in successive order, means in receivingrelation with the pan inverter for receiving and supporting the sets ofpans to permit the loaves of bread to drop therefrom, a

bread discharge conveyor located below said pan receiving and supportingmeans, means in the path of the dropped loaves of bread for turning saidloaves, a flap having movement into and out of the path of the turnedloaves of bread to align the loaves in rows, means for directing theloaves of bread in said rows to the bread discharge conveyor, and meansfor removing the empty sets of pans from the pan receiving andsupporting means, actuating means for said flap and means responsive tosaid empty pan removing means for controlling said actuating means.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter, a conveyor for delivering pans to the inverter, means inreceiving relation with the pan inverter for receiving and supportingthe inverted pans to permit loaves of bread to drop therefrom, a breaddischarge conveyor below the pan receiving and supporting means, a chutein the path of the falling loaves, spaced rollers carrying a pluralityof endless belts for engagement by ends of said loaves, means foractuating said belts to cooperate with the chute in turning said loavesto an upright position as they fall in said chute, means in said chutefor aligning the bread to continue along said chute in aligned rows tothe bread discharge conveyor, and means for removing the empty pans.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter, a conveyor for delivering pans of bread through a fixed pathto the inverter, means in receiving relation with the pan inverter forsupporting inverted pans while the bread drops from the pans, means foractuating the pan inverter responsive to movement of a set of pans intoposition over the inverter, means in the path of the pans for stoppingmovement of a following set of pans while the pan inverter is in motion,a pan discharge conveyor, means for carrying the pans from saidsupporting means to said discharge conveyor, means responsive tomovement of said pan carrying means for timing movement of the paninverter, a chute located below the pan supporting means for receivingloaves discharged from the pans, a flap in said chute to align theloaves of bread dropped from the pans, and means controlling actuationof the flap responsive to movement of the pan carrying means.

10. A machine of the character described including spaced side frames, apan inverter supported by the side frames, a conveyor for moving sets ofpans to the pan inverter, spaced pan support and guide plates carriedbetween the side frames for receiving pans from the pan inverter, a pandischarge conveyor carried by the side frames above the deliveryconveyor, a transverse shaft supported by the side frames, arms carriedon the shaft, pan engaging pins movably carried by ends of the arms,means on the side frames for guiding movement of the pins intoengagement with an inverted set of pans on said supporting means and formoving the pans up said guide plates and turning the pans onto thedelivery conveyor, and means for removing the bread dropped from saidpans.

11. A machine of the character described including spaced side frames, apan inverter supported by the side frames, a conveyor for moving sets ofpans to the pan inverter, spaced pan support and guide plates carriedbetween the side frames for receiving pans from the pan inverter, a pandischarge conveyor carried by the side frames above the deliveryconveyor, a transverse shaft supported by the side frames, arms carriedon the shaft, pan engaging pins movably carried by ends of the arms,means on the side frames for guiding movement of the pins intoengagement with an inverted set of pans on said supporting means and formoving the pans up said guide plates and turning of the pans onto thedelivery conveyor, a bread chute supported by the side frames, meansadjustably supporting said plates in spaced relation between the sideframes for guiding the loaves of bread for movement along said chute, aflap movably supported at lower terminals of the guide plates formomentarily stopping movement of the bread in said chute, means forreleasing the fiap responsive to movement of said pan carrying pins, andmeans between the pan supporting means and chute for turning the loavesof bread when moving through said chute.

12. A machine of the character described including spaced side frames, apan inverter supported by the side frames, a conveyor for moving sets ofpans to the pan inverter, spaced pan support and guide plates carriedbetween the side frames for receiving pans from the pan inverter, a pandischarge conveyor carried by the side ranies above the deliveryconveyor, a transverse shaft supported by the side frames, arms carriedon the shaft, pan engaging pins movably carried by ends of the arms,means on the side frames for guiding movement of the pins intoengagement with an inverted set of pans on said supporting means and formoving the pans up said guide plates and turning of the pans onto thedelivery conveyor, a bread chute supported by the side frames, meansadjustably supporting said plates in spaced relation between the sideframes for guiding the loaves of bread for movement along said chute, aflap movably supported at lower terminals of the guide plates formomentarily stopping movement of the bread in said chute, means forreleasing the flap responsive to movement of said pan carrying pins,means between the pan supporting means and chute for turning the loavesof bread when moving through said chute, and secondary guide platesadjustably supported from the side frames to cooperate with theterminals of the pan guide plates in separating the loaves as they slidedown the chute to said flap.

13. In a machine of the character described, spaced side frames, shaftshaving ends journalled in the side frames and having right and leftthreads, pan supporting plates having inclined edges for supporting aset of strapped bread pans in inverted position whereby loaves of breadfall from the pans between said plates, said inclined edges terminatingin upwardly and forwardly curving guide tracks, a transverse shaftjournalled in the side frames, arms fixed to said shaft near the endsthereof, links having pivotal support on ends of the arms, pins on thelinks for engaging undersides of the strapped to lift the pans alongsaid guide tracks to turn the pans, said side frames having slot-liketracks for guiding the pins upon revolution of said arms, weights ons-.ld links to control movement of the pins in said slot relative tomovement of the arms, an cfftake conveyor between the side frames forreceiving the strapped pans, and means connecting said threaded shaftsto effect rotation thereof for adjusting position of the plates relativeto the pans in said strapped sets.

is. In a machine of the character described, spaced side frames, adownwardly and forwardly curving chute, a bread offtake conveyor at theforward end of said chute, means for pivotally connecting the forwardend of the chute to the side frames, rotary means having support by theside frames above said chute to cooperate with the chute for turningloaves of bread that are adapted to be dropped into the chute, the latchmeans carried by the chute and adapted to enone of a series of openingsin the side frames to support the upper end of the chute in adjustedspaced relation with said rotary means.

15, in a machine of the character described, spaced side frames, adownwardly and forwardly curving chute, a bread offtake conveyor at theforward end of said chute, means for pivotally connecting the forwardend of the chute to the siue frames, rotary means having support by theside frames above said chute to cooperate with the chute for turningloaves of bread that are adapted to be dropped into the chute, latchmeans carried by the chute and adapted to engage one of a series ofopenings in the side frames to support the upper end of the chute inadjusted spaced relation with said rotary means, and dividers carried bythe side frames to provide separate slides for the loaves of bread onsaid chute.

16. In a machine of the character described, spaced side frames, adownwardly and forwardly curving chute, a bread offtake conveyor at theforward end of said chute, means for pivotally connecting the forwardend of the chute to the side frames, rotary means having support by theside frames above said chute to cooperate with the chute for turningloaves of bread that are adapted to be dropped into the chute. latchmeans carried by the chute and adapted to engage one of a series ofopenings in the side frames to support the upper end of the chute inadjusted spaced relation with said rotary means, dividers carried by theside frames to provide separate slides for the loaves of bread on saidchute, a flap carried by the chute and movable into and out of the pathof said loaves to momentarily detain release the loaves for causing theloaves to se the chute onto the offtake conveyor in a r and means foractuating said fiap.

row,

17. in a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter, a eyor for delivering pans of bread through a fi :1 to theinvert r, means in receiving relation with the pan inverter forsupporting inverted pans while the bread drops from the means foractuating the pan inverter responsive movement of a set of pans intoposition over the inverter, means in the path of the pans for stoppingmovement of a following set of while the pan inverter is in motion, apan discharge conveyor above the inverter, means for carr ing the fromsaid supporting means to dis char e conveyor, and a conveyor above andsubstantially parallel with the delivery conveyor for receiving the pansfrom the discharge conveyor, last named conveyor being tilted relativelyto the discharge conveyor to effect turning of pans.

18. In a bread pan dumping machine, pan sup porting means, means forinverting pans over supporting means, a shaft, arms carried by theshaft, links pivoted on the ends of the pins carried by the links andprojecting into posi tion for engaging the pans on said supporting cans,means for guiding said pins having slot" e passages for passing the pinsto remove the pans from the supporting means upon engagement of the pinswith said pans, and mean continuously operating the shaft, said guidemeans having portions cooperating with the links for effecting dwell ofthe pins prior to contact of the pins with said pans.

19. In a bread pan dumping machine, pan supporting means, means forinverting pans over supporting means, a shaft, arms carried by theshaft, links pivoted on the ends of the arms, pins carried by the linksand projecting into position for engaging the pans on said supportingmeans, means for guiding said pins having slotlike passages for passingthe pins to remove the pans from the supporting means upon engagement ofthe pins with said pans, means for corn tinuously operating the shaft,said guide having portions cooperating with the links for effectingdwell of the pins prior to contact of the pins with said pans, and meansactuated by said shaft for effecting actuation of the pan invertingmeans.

20. In a bread pan dumping machine, pan supporting means, means forinverting pans over said supporting means, a shaft, arms carried by theshaft, links pivoted on the ends of the arms, pins carried by the linksand projecting into position for engaging the pans on said supportingmeans, means for guiding said pins having slot-- like passages forpassing the pins to remove the pans from the supporting means uponengagement of the pins with said pans, means for continuously operatingthe shaft, said guide means having portions cooperating with the linksfor effecting dwell of the pins prior to contact of the pins with saidpans, means for actuating the pan inverting means, and means forchanging speed of the shaft while maintaining constant speed of theactuating means for the pan inverter.

21. In a bread pan dumping machine, pan supporting means, means forinverting pans over said supporting means, a shaft, arms carrie l by theshaft, links pivoted on the ends of the arms,

pins carried by the links and projecting into position for engaging thepans on said supporting means, means for guiding said pins havingslotlike passages for passing the pins to remove the pans from thesupporting means upon engagement of the pins with said pans, means forcontinuously operating the shaft, said guide means having portionscooperating with the links'for efiecting dwell of the pins prior tocontact of .the pins with said pans, means for changing speed of theshaft, means for actuating the pan inverting means at a constant speed,and means on the shaft for timing operation of the'actuating means forthe pan inverter, said timing means being changeable in response tochange in speed of said shaft.

22. In a bread pan dumping machine, pan supporting means, means forinverting pans over said supporting means, pan removing means for movingpans from the supporting means, means" for changing speed of the panremoving means, means for actuating the pan inverting meansat a constantspeed, and timing means actuated by the pan removing means for timingoperation of the pan inverting means.

23. In a bread pan dumping machine, a con veyor for delivering pans, pansupporting means in receiving relation with said delivery conveyor,means for inverting pans over said supporting means, pan removing meansfor moving pans from the supporting means, means for changing speed ofthe pan removing means relatively to the speed of said pan deliveringconveyor, means for actuating the pan inverting means at a constantspeed, and timing means for timing operation of the pan inverting means,said timing means being under control of said speed changing means.

24. In a machine of the character described, a pan inverter, a conveyorfor delivering pans to the inverter, pan supporting means in receivingrelation with the pan inverter for receiving and supporting the invertedpans to permit contents of the pans to drop therefrom, a pan dischargeconveyor above the pan inverter, said pan supporting means having trackportions leading from the inverter to said discharge conveyor, and panelevating and turning means movable along said track portions to engageand lift the pans from said supporting means and carry the pans upwardlyalong the track portions into a right side up position on the pandischarge conveyor.

25. In a machine of the character described, a pan inverter, a conveyorfor delivering pans to the inverter, pan supporting means in receivingrelation with the pan inverter for receiving and supporting the invertedpans to permit contents of the pans to drop therefrom, a pan dischargeconveyor abovethe pan inverter, said pan fsupporting means having trackportions leading from the inverter to said discharge conveyor, panelevating means movable along said track portions to lift the pans fromsaid supporting means and carry the pans to a right side up position onthe pan discharge conveyor, said pan elevating means including upwardlyinclined guideways terminating in substantially horizontal portionsextending substantially horizontal at opposite sides of the pandischarge conveyor and terminating in portions connected with saidupwardly inclined guideways at the sides of said pan in- ,verter, andpins movable in said guideways for engaging the pans.

26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter, a conveyor for delivering pans to the inverter, means in receiving relation with the pan inverter for receiving and supporting thepans inverted by said inverter to permit contents of the pans to droptherefrom, a pan discharge conveyor above the level of the pan inverter,pan guide means curving from said receiving and supporting meansretractively over said discharge conveyor, movable means having agenerally upward travel along said guide means from the pan receivingand supporting means for carrying the inverted pans from said receivingand supporting means in guided relation with said guide means forturning the pans during the movement along said guide means to anupright position and for depositing the uprighted pans on to thedischarge conveyor, and means for actuating said movable means.

27. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a paninverter, a conveyor for delivering pans to the inverter, means inreceiving relation with the pan inverter for receiving V and supportingthe pans inverted by said inverter to permit contents of the pans todrop therefrom, a pan discharge conveyor above the level of the paninverter, pan guide means curving from said receiving and supportingmeans retra'ctively over said discharge conveyor, movable means having agenerally upward travel along said guide means from the pan receivingand supporting means for carrying the inverted pans from said receivingand supporting means while guided by said guide means for turning thepans during the movement along said guide means to an upright positionand for depositing the uprighted pans on to the discharge conveyor,means for efiecting actuation of the pan inverter responsive to movementof the'pans into a position over the inverter by the delivery conveyor,and means for actuating said movable means in accordance with thedelivery rate of the pans by said first named conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

